Automated well drilling apparatus



Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. ONEILL ETA!- 3,294135 AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2. 1959 25 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ,ia Jay M mus/u BY 65 0 965 HUM/WW6! 3; ROBE/PFC fl coko Arron/[ s Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. O'NEILL. ET AL AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS 23 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 INVENTORfi JOSEPH v, OWE/LL O 650m #OMA/V/CK wa er c ,wcoeo Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. ONEILL ET 3,294,185

AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2. 1959 23 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTORS 22 12% J055PH L/. OWE/LL eeozae HOMA/U/CK BY 05527 6 M-60P0 Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. O'NEILL T L 3, 94, 85

AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 as Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH OWE/LL. N 60Z6E yam/wax BY 2055a" a M cofia Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. O'NEILL T AL AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS 23 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 2. 1959 INVENTOR. JOSEPH V OWE/LL 60P6E A/UMA/V/CK Dec. 27, 1966 o' E ET AL I 3,294,185

AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2. 1959 23 Sheets-Sheet 6 Q E3] 0 (0 4 0 m N A M Q a 0 K m N g N23 BY PUEIEFT 6'. MCGPD Dec. 27, 1966 J. V. O'NEILL ET AL 3,294,185

AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 23 Sheets-Sheet '7 [I r H 328 .f 10" 414 41 2 422 7 q ga 418/ [*1 322 222 434 452 3% 33a 3% fig 9 INVENTOR JOSE/ 1V VOW/LL s 1966 J. v. O'NEILL ETAL 3,294,185;

AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Dec. 27, 1966 .J. v. O'NEILL ET AL AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 23 Sheets-Sheet 9 l F NV VNWNV 3% a? z N m? 5 L QNN wum a" w WNW m Qbm INVENTORS JOSEPH v ONE'ILL GEORGE HOMAN/CK BY ROBE/W 6. M 601?!) Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. Q'NEILL ET AL AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS 2.3 Sheds-Sheet 10 Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 llll ll'lll'llllll INVENTORS JOSEPH V ONE/LL 60Z6E momma/4 /mszw a M 6020 Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. O'NEILL ET AL AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS 23 Sheets-Sheet l1 Original Filed Feb. 2. 1959 Dec. 27, 1966 J'. v. O'NEILL ET L AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 25 Sheets-Sheet l2 INVENTORS JOSEPH v O'NE/LL GEORGE HUMAN/6K BY EvBEFT C. M COFD Dec. 27, 1966 AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS J. V. O'NEILL ET AL Original File d Feb. 2, 1959 fig/6' 25 Sheets-Sheet 15 650265 A OMA/WCK.

Dec. 27, 1966 v J. v. ONEILL ET 3,294,185

AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 215 Sheets-Sheet 14 fig [5.

INVFN TORv 55g.. ll L/OS'PH 0 A/E/LL u--- 214, 65 ORGE x/aluA/v/cK H POBEFT C: MCOkD Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. ONEILL. ET AL AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APFARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 25 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 JOSEPH l/ 0 'A/E/LL G5 OEGE HUMAN/CK IHI IM 0 Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. ONEILL ET AL AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS 23 Sheets-Sheet 16 Original Filed Feb. 2. 1959 XNVENTORS JOSEPH V OWE/LL 650;?65 HUMAN/CK BY P086197 6 M 6050 Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. O'NEILL ET AL 3,294,185

AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2. 1959 23 Sheets-Sheet 1? '752 7a 722 ,771 7&8 72

IN VEN TOR. JOSEPH V OWE/LL 650265 HUMAN/6K POBEPT c. MCORD Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. ONEILL ET AL 3,294,185

AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 23 Sheets-Sheet 19 l 254 1 I I Ill]- II II'I/l l I |L I l I I l 8o2 l L s I I figZQ INVENTORS JOSEPH \K O'NEILL 6 EORGE HOMAN/CK FOBEPT c M 6W0 Dec. 27, 1966 J. v. ONEILL ET AUTOMATED WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 2, 1959 23 Sheets-Sheet 20 u U rllllllafl lllll ll ,1 VENTORs JOEEPA M O E/LL GEORGE /OMAIV/CK POBEQT C MCOQD 

2. THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A VERTICALLY TRAVELING ANNULAR DRILL HEAD HAVING A PIPE GRIPPER FOR SUSPENDING A DRILL STRING WITHIN A WELL HOLE DURING A DRILLING OPERATION, AND A REMOVABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID HEAD AND SAID PIPE GRIPPER FOR PERMITTING SAID PIPE GRIPPER TO 